The instrument that measures the vertical profile of air temperature in the atmosphere.

Radiosonde

The boundary near 50km which separates the stratosphere from the mesosphere.

Stratopause

The "hot layer" above the mesosphere.

Thermosphere

The region where atoms and molecules shoot off into space is sometimes referred to as the ______

exosphere

The lower, well-mixed region

homosphere

The region from about the base of the thermosphere to the top of the atmosphere is often called the ______. 90km and upwards

Heterosphere

An electrified region within the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentration of ions and free electrons exist.

ionosphere

Heat transfer process that depends upon the movements of air

convection

Objects that selectively absorb and emit radiation

selective absorber

Rising bubbles of air

thermals

The heat we can feel and measure with a thermometer

sensible heat

The horizontal transfer of any atmospheric property by the wind

advection

Energy transferred by electromagnetic waves

radiation

One millionth of a meter

micrometer

A measure of the average speed of air molecules

temperature

The horizontal distance between two wave crests

wavelength

This is released as sensible heat during formation of clouds

latent heat

The transfer of heat by molecule-to-molecule contact

conduction

The sun emits radiation with greatest intensity in this region of the spectrum

visible

A temperature scale where 0 represents freezing and 100 boiling

Celsius

Wavelengths longer than those of red light

infrared

Visible light given off by excited atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere

aurora

Electromagnetic waves whose wavelengths are shorter than those of visible light

ultraviolet

Temperature scale that begins at absolute zero

Kelvin

Charged particles traveling through space

Solar wind

Energy of motion is know as _____ _____

Kinetic Energy

Sunlight bounces off a surface is said to be _____

reflective

A perfect absorber and a perfect emitter of radiation is called a _____ ______

black body

How much radiation would an object be emitting if its temperature were at absolute zero?

none

The _____ represents the reflectivity of a surface.

albedo

The two most significant atmospheric greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere are _____ and _____

H20, C02

At night objects on the ground cool by the process of emitting ____ _____

infrared radiation

The combined albedo of the earth and its atmosphere averages about _____ percent

30

The earth emits maximum radiation in the _____ portion of the spectrum, while the sun emits maximum radiation at _____ wavelengths

infrared, visible

If the present concentration of C02 doubles, climatic models predict that for the earth's average temperature to rise bu as much as 4.5C, the gas _____ _____ must also increase in concentration.

water vapor

The wavelength range where neither water vapor nor carbon dioxide absorbs much of the earth's infrared radiation is known as the atmospheric _____

window

Air that sinks, warms by ______

compression

The temperature at which the earth is both absorbing solar radiation and emitting infrared radiation at equal rates is called the Earth's _____ _____ _____

radiative equilibrium temperature

In the Northern Hemisphere another name for the northern lights is the _____ ______

aurora borealis

Sunlight deflected in all direction after striking very small objects is said to be ______

scattered

As the average speed of air molecules decreases, the temperature of the air ______

decreases

The proper order of waves from longest to shortest is:

infrared, visible, ultraviolet

Heat energy is the process of being transferred from ____objects to _____ objects

hot, cold

The rate at which radiant energy is emitted by a body ____ with _____ temperature

increases, increasing

If the earth had no atmospheric greenhouse effect, the average surface temperature would be _____ than at present

lower

If the earth's average surface temperature should increase, the amount of radiation emitted from the earth's surface will _____, and the wavelength of maximum emission will shift toward _____ wavelengths

increase, shorter

The moon's surface can only cool by ______

radiation

The earth's atmospheric greenhouse effect is produced mainly by water vapor and carbon dioxide absorbing and emitting ______ _______

Clouds absorb and re-radiate infrared radiation back to the earth's surface

The law that states that good absorbers of radiation are good emitters of radiation at a particular wavelength:

Kirchhoff's law

The sun's radiation is also referred to as _____ radiation

shortwave

Clouds are poor absorbers and emitters of ______ radiation

infrared

Substances such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, clouds, and snow that absorb radiation only at particular wavelengths

selective absorbers

What is larger, a degree Fahrenheit or a degree Celsius

a degree Celsius

On average, about ____ percent of the solar radiation that strikes the outer atmosphere eventually reaches the earth's surface.

50

Which carries more energy: an ultraviolet photon or an infrared photon?

ultraviolet photon

T/F Air is a poor conductor of heat.

True

T/F The earth's atmosphere behaves as a black body.

False

T/F On averages, each year the earth-atmosphere system sends off into space just as much energy as it receives.

True

T/F Sinking air always warms and rising air always cools.

True

On average, _____ percent of the sunlight that strikes water daily is reflected.

???

The ability or capacity to do work.

Energy

T/F An increase in cloud cover around the earth would probably increase the albedo of the earth-atmosphere system.

True

T/F Air glow is another name for the aurora.

False

The ratio of heat absorbed (or released) by the unit mass of the system to the corresponding temperature rise (or fall).

Specific heat

The heat we can feel and measure with a thermometer.

Sensible heat

T/F The process of condensation, freezing, and deposition all release sensible heat into the environment.

True

Convert 212°F to °CConvert 140°F to °CConvert 86°F to °CConvert 50°F to °CConvert 32°F to °CConvert -4°F to °C

100°C60°C30°C10°C0°C-20°C

Convert 233K to °CConvert 253K to °CConvert 273K to °CConvert 303K to °C

-40°C-20°C0°C30°C

T/F In direct sunlight, a object with a high albedo appears darker than on object with a low albedo.

False

T/F The earth's radiative equilibrium temperature is lower than the earth's observed average surface temperature.

True

T/F UVB radiation is more likely to cause a sunburn than is UVA radiation

True

By doubling the absolute temperature of the sun's surface, the sun's energy output would increase by a factor of ____

16

A measure of the average speed of the atoms and molecules.

Temperature

At this temperature, the atoms and molecules would possess a minimum amount of energy and theoretically no thermal motion.

Absolute zero

The heat capacity of a substance per unit mass.

Specific heat

The heat energy required to change a substance, such as water, from one state to another.

Latent heat

The transfer of heat from molecule to molecule within a substance is called ______

conduction

A small, rising parcel of war air produced when the earth's surface is heated unevenly.

Thermal

The horizontal transfer of any atmospheric property by the wind.

Advection

Wavelengths longer than red.

Infrared (IR)

1367 W/m²

solar constant

The astronomical first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summer solstice

The astronomical beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Winter solstice

The measured increase in air temperature just above the ground.

Radiation inversion

The process by which the ground and air above cool by radiating infrared energy.

Radiational cooling.

The main factors that cause variations in temperature from one place to another.

Controls of temperature

Lines connecting places that have the same temperature

isotherms

Farmers use an index called _____ _____ _____ as a guide to planting and for determining the approximate dates when a crop will be ready for harvesting.

growing degree-days

The sensation of temperature that the human body feels in contrast to the actual temperature of the environment as measured with a thermometer.

Sensible temperature

The rapid loss of body heat may lower the body temperature below its normal level and bring on a condition know as ______.

hypothermia

Sunlight warms the ground, and the ground warms the air in contact with it by ______.

Conduction

Air is a ____ conductor of heat.

poor

Rising air bubbles (thermals) are the result of this type of heating.

convection

Measured increase in air temperature just above the ground. Occurs on clear, calm nights. Winter nights provide the best conditions.

Radiation inversion / nocturnal inversion

In middle latitudes, these warmer hillsides called _____ _____, are less likely to experience freezing temperatures than the valley below.

thermal belts

Main factors that cause variations in temperature from one place to another.

Controls of temperature

The greatest factor in determining temperature.

Solar radiation

Two factors which determine the amount of solar radiation. (both are functions of latitude)

Length of day, intensity

The four main controls:

1. latitude2. land and water distribution3. ocean currents4. elevation

The largest _____ range of temperature occurs on high deserts/

diurnal

The average of the highest and lowest temperature for a 24-hour period i s know as the _____ (average) daily temperature.

mean

The difference between the average temperature of the warmest and coldest months.

annual range of temperature

_____ cities have larger annual ranges than _____ cities.

inland, coastal

Near the _____ annual temperature ranges are small.

equator

The temperature we perceive.

Sensible temperature

How cold the wind makes us feel.

Wind-chill index (WCI)

Often used for measuring surface air temperature because they are easy to read and inexpensive to construct.

Liquid-in-glass thermometers

Instrument which measures and records temperature.

thermograph

Thermometers and other instruments are usually housed in an _____ _____

instrument shelter

Average distance from the earth to the Sun.

150km

The earth is closest to the sun in this month:

January

Angle of earth's tilt:

23.5 degrees

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in this season:

Summer

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun in this season:

Winter

Incoming solar radiation

insolation

Latitude of the Tropic of Cancer

23.5 degrees North

Date of the summer solstice:

6/21

During the summer solstice, solar energy incident on the earth's surface is maximum near this latitude:

30 degrees North

Date of the autumnal equinox:

9/22

When days and nights are of equal length:

equinox

Date of the winter solstice:

12/21

The latitude of the Tropic of Capricorn:

23.5 degrees South

Date of the vernal (spring) equinox:

3/20

When is the highest average temperature attained?

When the incoming solar radiation and the outgoing infrared energy are in balance.

Why does the coldest weather occur in January or February?

Outgoing earth energy exceeds incoming solar radiation

Relative humidity _____ as air temperature _____.

increases, decreases

The amount of water vapor in the air.

humidity

Ocean's occupy over _____% of the earth's surface.

70

Circulation begins over the _____.

oceans

Cycle of moving and transforming water molecules from liquid to water vapor and back to liquid again

hydrologic cycle

The process by which plants give up moisture

transpiration

____% of water vapor in the atmosphere comes from oceans.

85

ice-to-water

sublimation

vapor-to-ice

deposition

Mass of water vapor in a given volume of air

absolute humidity

Where is the average specific humidity highest?

warm, muggy tropics

Where is the average specific humidity lowest?

polar latitudes

Total pressure inside the parcel is equal to the sum of the pressures of the individual gasses

Dalton's Law of Partial Pressures

Tells us the mass of water vapor in a fixed volume of air, or the water vapor density

Absolute humidity

Measures the mass of water vapor in a fixed total mass of air

Specific humidity

Expresses the amount of water vapor in terms of the amount of pressure that the water vapor molecules exert

Actual vapor pressure

Pressure that the water vapor molecules would exert if the air were saturated with vapor at a given temperature

Saturation vapor pressure

The ratio of the amount of water vapor actually in the air to the maximum amount of water vapor required for saturation at that particular temperature (and pressure);the ratio of the air's water vapor content to its capacity

relative humidity (RH)

A measure of the air's actual water vapor content

Actual vapor pressure

A measure of the air's total capacity for water vapor.

Saturation vapor pressure

Two ways to change the relative humidity:

change air's water vapor content; change air temperature

Average albedo of the earth _____%

30

Albedo of water is ____ depending on the Sun's elevation and viewing angle

10-60%

% of the Sun's energy lost:

50%

Temperature to which air would have to be cooled for saturation to occure:

dew point

A low dew-point temperature means there is ____water vapor in the air.

little

Polar air has a ____ RH than desert air. "Dry" desert air has a ____ dew-point, contains more water vapor than polar air.

higher, higher

Sun to earth distance in AU

1 AU (astronomical unit)

GMT stands for:

Greenwich Mean Time

Meteoros is Greek for _____

lofty

Logos is Greek for _____

discourse/discussion

A deferentially absorbing medium of electromagnetic radiation

atmosphere

More than _____% of atmospheric mass found below 30km.

99%

Speed of light

300,000km/sec

Jet stream found at this height:

11km

Altitude where air temperature increases (inversion)

20km

Height of a ventilated shelter:

2m off the ground

The aurora occurs in this layer of the atmosphere:

Thermosphere

Meteors burn up in this layer of the atmosphere:

Mesosphere

A photon of UV "light" hits an oxygen molecule. The energy from the photon breaks the molecule apart into two separate oxygen atoms. This process is called:

photodissociation

Characterized by a relatively constant composition of its component gases.